Dr Hendrik Vijfbergen

Country Expert — Suriname, Guyana: Human Rights, Political Situation & Asylum Cases

Expert at The Human Rights Experts, an international expert witness organisation.

We provide expert witness reports for asylum cases worldwide, covering human rights violations, political persecution, and systemic oppression. Our reports are trusted by lawyers, courts, and immigration authorities, in full compliance with procedural standards and tribunal requirements in the UK (CPR Part 35, Upper Tribunal PD, First-tier Tribunal IAC PD), USA (Federal Rules of Evidence), Canada, and the EU.

Occupation

• Country Witness Expert on Suriname and Guyana
• Human Rights Specialist
• Legal Researcher and Academic Consultant
• Independent Journalist and Investigative Reporter on Human Rights

Expertise

I provide expert analysis on all five Refugee Convention grounds — political opinion, religion, ethnicity, membership of a particular social group (including LGBT and gender-based cases), and nationality — with a focus on the following countries:

Suriname: Suriname faces ongoing human rights challenges stemming from weak democratic institutions, a history of military rule, and pervasive corruption within state structures. The December murders trial and unresolved political violence from the 1980s continue to shape the political landscape and contribute to a culture of impunity. Indigenous peoples and Maroon communities lack formal land tenure despite ancestral occupation of interior territories, leaving them vulnerable to displacement by logging, mining, and agricultural interests. Political dissent carries risks of legal harassment and economic retaliation in a small society where state patronage networks dominate employment. Gender-based violence rates are among the highest in the region, with sexual violence against minors a particular concern. LGBT individuals face social ostracism and employment discrimination, and while same-sex conduct is not criminalised, there are no legal protections against discrimination. Religious minorities face subtle forms of exclusion in communities dominated by Christian or Hindu institutions.

Guyana: Guyana remains deeply divided along ethno-political lines, with the Indo-Guyanese PPP/C and Afro-Guyanese PNC/APNU parties dominating a political system in which ethnicity determines party loyalty and access to state resources. Post-election periods have been marked by ethnic violence, arson, and politically motivated attacks. Amerindian communities in the hinterland face exploitation by mining operations, loss of traditional lands, and the absence of meaningful consultation on development projects affecting their territories. Security forces have been implicated in extrajudicial killings, particularly in anti-crime operations in Afro-Guyanese urban communities. Gender-based violence, including sexual assault and trafficking, is pervasive and poorly addressed by the justice system. LGBT persons face severe persecution under laws criminalising same-sex intimacy and cross-dressing, with transgender individuals particularly targeted by both police and communities. The oil wealth boom has deepened governance concerns and inequality.

Experience

• Expert Witness (2019—Present): Regularly instructed by legal practitioners in the United Kingdom and the United States to prepare expert reports and provide oral testimony in asylum and immigration proceedings relating to Suriname and Guyana, addressing political persecution, ethnic violence, and indigenous rights.
• Country Condition Reports: Authored detailed country condition reports for courts, tribunals, and legal representatives covering all Refugee Convention grounds in Suriname and Guyana.
• Academic Researcher, Anton de Kom University of Suriname: Conducted university-level research on governance, ethnic relations, and human rights in Suriname and the broader Guiana Shield region.
• Consultant to Human Rights Organisations: Provided expert analysis on indigenous land rights, Maroon community protections, and political repression to regional and international non-governmental organisations.
• Expert Member of The Human Rights Experts: Active expert within The Human Rights Experts international expert witness organisation, contributing to analytical frameworks for reports on Suriname and Guyana.

Full professional experience is available in the CV. Please email us to receive the detailed expert CV.

Publications

Available upon request and detailed in the expert CV.

Languages

• Dutch (Native)
• Sranan Tongo (Fluent)
• English (Fluent)

Religious Groups Expertise

All religious groups

Contact Email

info@thehuman-rights.com